What About You?

2: employer

A little out of town, Wei Zexian could hear a horse coming up behind him. But before he could sidestep it, the person riding called out to him. “Hey, kid! Hold up a second,” He yelled, so begrudgingly, the boy stopped and turned so that the horse could catch up.

“What do you want?” He asked, speaking rudely even though he knew he shouldn’t be.

“Heh, just as I expected,” He dude grinned down at him. Most of his hair was down, but the top part was in a high bun. “Hey, kid, how would you like to join my crew?”

“Excuse me?” Wei Zexian’s eyes narrowed.

“Ah, just thought you might like some proper training is all,” He suddenly whipped out a gold coin, a smirk replacing his grin. “And some money. How bout it?”

“I need to get back to my brother.” The boy responded, not that he wasn’t tempted.

“Brother, you say?” The person raised an eyebrow. “So that’s why you were heading that way. Alright, then how about we go together, pick him up and come back?” The man suggested, hoping down from his horse and offering Wei Zexian his hand. “So? What do you say?”

The boy took a moment to observe the hand in front of him, his mind processing the options he had. Who knew what this person’s crew did for a living? Plus, the show never mentioned Wei Wuxian joining a party with anyone in the time before he went with the Jiangs.

“I’m Wei Zexian,” He finally accepted the hand, looking up at the older male.

“I’m Zi Kang, courtesy name* Xieren,” He introduced himself. “Glad to have you, Wei Zexian. Now, why don’t we go fetch your brother?”

~*~

As they travelled back to the town he’d left Wei Ying in, Wei Zexian learned much about his new partner. First, that the crew he’d spoken of was actually a mercenary bunch. Obviously, he was confused as to why the leader of the troop would scout him, a young boy no older than nine, for a violent-based profession.

Zi Xieren told him that he’d seen potential in him, and that he liked the fire in Wei Zexian’s eyes. Therefore, he was willing to take the risk.

Secondly, he learned that the troop had two middle tier cultivators, and one high level one (Zi Xieren himself). The other two were normal people with exceptional talent in the sword and bow, so there was that.

And lastly, that they were loaded since the bow guy was a young master, wanting a life of adventure. Wei Zexian could understand that.

Within a day and a half, Zi Xieren and Wei Zexian had returned to the familiar town that he’d been taken from, where he’d left his little Wei Ying. “Wei Zexian!” Zi Xieren yelled as said person jumped off the horse the two shared and bolted in the direction of where he’d last left his younger brother.

Panting ever so slightly as he reached the spot, Wei Zexian frantically moved his eyes over the area. Not a soul stood there.

“Ah, you’re back?” A voice brought him out of his racing thoughts. Spinning to face the speaker, the boy narrowed his eyes. “If you’re looking for that young lad, he’s on the other side of town. Hasn’t stopped looking for you since you disappeared,” An old woman told him, smiling. “Go on, now.”

“Yes, thank you so much!” He bowed—making sure to use formal language—before rushing off to go where she had indicated. Please be safe, he pleaded in his mind. “Wei Ying!”

“Gege?” Wei Ying turned, hearing his older brother’s voice calling for him. However, he couldn’t see him. “Gege!” He cried, desperately looking around.

“Wei Ying!” Wei Zexian became more frantic at the sound of his little brother’s voice. It was faint, which meant he was still a ways away. “Stay where you are!”

“Gege!”

“Stay there!” He shouted, trying to sound stern. “Stay put!” He yelled again, rounding a corner and sprinting up a street. He was close, he could feel it.

“Gege!”

“Wei Ying!” Wei Zexian finally spotted him, hope and relief shining in his eyes. “A'Ying**!” With that yell, his brother whipped to face him, his face lighting up.

“Gege!!” He cried, the two running at each other until they collided into a tangle of limbs.

“It’s okay, I got you,” Wei Zexian whispered to his sobbing didi, over and over, rubbing his back to reassure him that he was there.

“You sure run fast, Wei Zexian,” Zi Xieren finally caught up with him, looking slightly impressed but more relieved. “So, this is your brother huh? You do look almost identical.”

“Yeah,” The boy smiled fondly down at Wei Ying, who, slowly but surely, stopped crying. “You okay?”

“Mhm,” His little brother nodded, looking between the two people and the horse. “Gege, who is that?”

“My employer,” Wei Zexian replied, standing up and offering Wei Ying a hand up. Immediately he siezed it and looked up at Zi Xieren with a newfound reverence.

“Really?!”

“Yeah, so I hope you’ll get along with him, okay? Use your manners,” Wei Zexian told him, so with a quick nod of understanding, Wei Ying bowed politely.

“I am Wei Ying, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Ha, yeah, nice to meet you too. I’m Zi Kang, courtesy name Xieren.”

“Get this, A’Ying,” Wei Zexian spoke up, putting a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “We’re going to go live with Zi’Xiansheng (mister/sir/teacher).”

“We are?!” He asked excitedly, looking between them to confirm from their facial expressions. He got his answer quickly, bringing a grin to his face.

“Why don’t we get going, then?” Zi Xieren suggested, hopping off his horse to give a hand to the two in front of him.

“Sounds good,” Wei Zexian agreed with a nod, glancing at Wei Ying who could not get the smile off his face.

“Yeah, let’s go!” The youngest cheered, drawing chuckled from the older two. After helping the two young boys onto the horse, Zi Xieren mounted as well and they started another day and a half ride back to where they’d meet the rest of the mercenaries.

* A courtesy name is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. It could be given either by the parents or by a private teacher on the first day of school.

** a term of familiarity, A'(shortened name), so for Wei Zexian at the moment, it would be A'Xian.